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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 4: Chapter 9: Verses 35-49
Dhruva returns home after receiving a boon from the Lord
Alas ! like a pauper seeking unhusked grains of a universal monarch, I, whose stock of merit had been depleted, foolishly asked for worldly power and pelf (that tends to swell one's pride) at the hands of Him who was ready to grant me the joythat constitutes one's own essence. When the king (Uttanapada) heard that his son (Dhruva) was coming back, he did not give credence to the news any more than one would believe the story of anyone's returning to life after death (and said to himself,)" How could a wretched being like me have such good luck ?" He (however) put faith in the words of the celestial sage (Narada) and was (forthwith) overwhelmed with intensity of joy. Highly pleased with the man who had brought the news, he rewarded him with a costly pearl necklace. Eager to see his son, he mounted a car decked with gold and drawn by excellent horses and, surrounded by Brahmanas, the elders of his race, ministers and kinsfolk, sallied forth from the city, while conchs were being blown and kettledrums sounded, Vedic hymns were loudly chanted and flutes played upon (even as he drove in the car). Adorned with gold ornaments, his two queens, Suniti and Suruci, too mounted a palanquin and proceeded along with prince Uttama ( Suruci's son). The king, whose heart had been pining for his son for a long time, hurriedly alighted from the car when he saw the boy coming near the garden, and quickly went up to him. Overpowered with affection and heaving deep sighs, he folded in his arms Dhruva, who had been absolved of all his sins and freed from all bondages by the touch of Lord Visnu's feet. His great ambition (of seeing his son safe and sound again) having been realized, the king smelt Dhruva's head (out of affection) again and again and bathed him with his cool tears (of love and joy). Having bowed at his father's feet and received his benedictions (in return), and being kindly spoken to and received with honour by him, Dhruva, the foremost of noble souls, bent his head low to both his mothers (Suniti and Suruci). Lifting up the child fallen at her feet, Suruci (Dhruva's stepmother) pressed it to her bosom and in a voice choked with tears said, "May you live (long) !" Just as water flows down to a low level of its own accord, so all living beings submit to him who has pleased Sri Hari through virtues like friendliness (to all) and so on. Both Uttama and Dhruva experienced a thrill of joy when, overwhelmed with love, they hugged each other and shed a flood of tears again and again. Suniti, Dhruva's mother, was relieved of her agony as she hugged her son, who was dearer (to her) than life, and felt gratified by the very touch of his body.
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